SHAH ALAM – The high court here today allowed Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s application to postpone his corruption trial related to the Foreign Visa System (VLN) as he is still on sick leave.
Judge Datuk Mohd Yazid Mustafa said based on the medical certificate submitted by the defence, Zahid is on sick leave until Saturday.
He said the court notes that Dr Mohd Shahir Anuar from Avisena Specialist Hospital here, who treated Zahid, had appeared before Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah to explain the former deputy prime minister’s health condition.
“Based on the contents of the MC prima facie, the court accepts that the accused is not fit to return duty until September 4.
“The court is grateful and thankful for the commitment shown by the accused (who was present in court) and the court requests that the commitment will continue on the days of the hearing to be determined later,” he said.
The court set September 28, October 22, November 18 to 19, and December 20 to 24 to continue the trial.
“The court would like to stress and remind all quarters that the dates have been agreed to by all parties involved and we ask for cooperation to enable the hearing to take place as scheduled and that any other postponement will not be allowed,” said Yazid.
Earlier, Zahid’s lawyer Hamidi Mohd Noh informed the court about his client’s latest medical condition and requested that the proceedings set for today and tomorrow be postponed as Zahid is still on sick leave.
“The defence would like to request that today’s proceedings be postponed to a new date as we believe that our client should be fully prepared, physically and mentally, to attend the proceedings,” he said.
Deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin requested that the accused obtain a medical certificate from a government hospital.
“If possible, an MC from the Health Ministry or from the government (hospital). This is because MCs from some private hospitals have a footnote saying that they cannot be used in court proceedings,” he said.
Nevertheless, Wan Shaharuddin also thanked Zahid for his commitment to attend today’s proceeding.
Zahid, 68, is facing 33 charges of receiving bribes amounting to S$13.56 million (RM42 million) from Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd as an inducement for himself in his capacity as a civil servant and home minister at the time to extend the contract of the company as the operator of One Stop Centre in China and the VLN system, as well as to maintain the agreement to supply VLN integrated system paraphernalia to the same company by the Home Ministry.
For another seven charges, Zahid was charged as home minister for accepting S$1,150,000, RM3,000,000, €15,000 (RM75,663) and US$15,000 (RM62,115) in cash from the same company, which he knew had a connection with his function as then home minister. – Bernama, September 1, 2021
